Reveal Time Machine Disks Hidden by Lion Server

Apple Mac OS X Lion Server 10.7.2 hides Time Machine volumes when it is installed. Lion Server limits the number of volumes for client Time Machine backups to one. We prefer to have a Time Machine volume for each client that uses server attached Time Machine disks.

There is a work around. Execute the following, replacing clientTM with the share name of your disk.

sudo defaults write /private/var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/sharepoints/clientTM timeMachineBackup '(1)'

Thanks to this support discussion for the answer.

Weighted Water Leak Detector Sensor

The SimpleHomeNet EZSnsLQD - Surface Mount Liquid Sensor tips over if it is not anchored to something. Attaching it to a piece of PVC 1/4 round and adding some sinkers for weights, makes an attractive water sensor that can be moved around as needed.

Water Gremlin 1/2 oz sinkers were inserted into the drilled out 3" long 1/4 round. The tip of one sinker needs to be snipped off to make them fit. Drill pilot holes for the sensor mounting screws right through the sinkers and the screws will hold it all together.

Clothes Dryer Remote Status with Pressure Switch

The old clothes dyer status method went out when the new washer and dryer were delivered. Rather than open and modify a brand new clothes dryer, a pressure switch was installed on the dryer exhaust duct. The pressure switch dry contacts can be wired to an INSTEON IO Linc, TriggerLinc, EZIO or many other input devices.

A FanTech FPS-10 pressure switch was used. Fantech makes the switch as a trigger for their dryer booster fans. Create a 5/16" hole in the existing dryer duct or to an added 4" duct connector as shown in the photos. Install the included grommet into the hole. Slip the included tubing into the grommet after cutting the end of the tubing at an angle. Mark the tubing so it can be aligned for the angled end to catch the dryer exhaust air. This will help assure constant pressure on the switch and avoid bouncing when a load of wet clothes are tumbling in the dryer.
Perceptive Automation's Indigo home control software is configured to turn on a lamp in the den and turn on the whole house supply fan when the dryer starts. When it stops, the lamp and supply fan are turned off and an email is sent to the family so the clothes can be removed before they wrinkle. The supply fan counters the dryer exhaust.

Panasonic BL-C210A Network Camera and Mac OS X

The Panasonic BL-C210A is nice. However, there are several problems when using the it with an Apple computer running Mac OS X

• The Panasonic firmware updates are packaged in an *.exe file. It has to be run to expand into a *.bin file.
• The audio does not work with Safari. It involves Java which does not work in Safari.
• The downloaded buffered images are in a proprietary Panasonic PNC file. The reader app is Windows only.

Despite the above problems, it is still the best IP network camera for the money. RTSP works to VLC on Mac OS X making video plus audio available.

RTSP streaming information on Mac OS X

Panasonic Technical Notes

VLC
audio and video when MPEG4 enabled
rtsp://ipaddress/nphMpeg4/g726-640x480
rtsp://ipaddress/MediaInput/mpeg4

audio and video when H.264 enabled
rtsp://ipaddress/MediaInput/h264

Quicktime
video only when MPEG4 enabled
rtsp://ipaddress/nphMpeg4/g726-640x480
rtsp://ipaddress/MediaInput/mpeg4

video only when H.264 enabled
rtsp://ipaddress/MediaInput/h264

Got one single image after about a minute with this URL in VLC on the Mac: http://ipaddress/rtpOverHttp?Url=nphMpeg4/nil-320x240

Samsung SDE-120 Security Camera DVR System

A Samsung SDE-120 Security Camera with DVR System with four cameras was installed. The unit has performed as advertised and is a good system for home installation.

The system has several nice features. There is a single cable to each camera. It provides power and receives video. The Samsung system also is built with about an 18" pigtail at the camera so the actual connector can be stowed out of the weather. The cameras are very rugged and housed in a single piece of what seems to be Aluminum.

Web browser access is available and works well. However, viewing four cameras simultaneously or doing search and playback via the browser requires Microsoft Internet Explorer with an Active X plugin. Safari on the iPhone and on Mac OS X works very good for viewing one camera at a time. The mobile browser format is quite good.

Exporting video uses the IMM4 codec. That codec is not available for Mac OS X so the videos cannot be viewed on a Mac. The export process includes a setup.exe file that installs the IMM4 codec on Windows computers.

Email alarms have not performed as expected. There is no way to schedule alarms for only part of the day. So far, each time an email alarm is sent, it only sends the camera 4 image.

There is a converter for the IMM4 files that runs on Windows. After conversion, the video files can be played on a Mac and edited in iMovie.

Forum reference: http://www.techsupportforum.com/design-forum/graphic-design-digital-imaging-multimedia/312934-video-codec.html

Converter site: http://www.tmpgenc.net/